Afrobeats star Rema has paid glowing tribute to music legend D’banj for paving the way for Nigerian artistes in the UK music scene.
The 24-year-old made the statement on Sunday night, during his sold-out concert at the iconic O2 Arena in London, where he brought D’banj on stage to the delight of over 20,000 fans.
“First of all, I want to appreciate you for opening the doors,” Rema said.
“You were one of the first ones to bring Afrobeats to the UK. You and Don Jazzy held it down. Y’all opened that door. I appreciate you for life. I love you from the bottom of my heart. If you never existed, I would have never existed.”
The ‘Calm Down’ singer was referring to D’banj’s 2012 smash hit ‘Oliver Twist’, which broke into the UK Top 10 and is often credited with opening the global stage to Afrobeats.
The emotional moment sparked loud cheers from the crowd.
D’banj, also known as the Koko Master, rose to fame in the early 2000s with hits like ‘Why Me’, ‘Suddenly’ and ‘Fall in Love’.
He is widely regarded as one of the first Nigerian artistes to gain international recognition, particularly during his time with Don Jazzy under the now-defunct Mo’Hits Records.
Rema’s heartfelt tribute has since gone viral, with many fans online praising him for giving D’banj his flowers while he is still alive.
